ZIP Code 29209: Population, Income, Housing

State: SC
Total population: 38,041 Household income: $58,772 Rent: $1,326

Overview

Total population
38,041
Rent
$1,326
Year built
1985
Household income
$58,772
Per capita income
$37,989
Poverty rate
19.1%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Household size
2.5 persons
Rent over 30% of income
51.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State
South Carolina
County
Richland County
City
Columbia
Total population
38,041
Adults over 25
24,710
Total households
15,229
Household size
2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Income & Poverty

Household income
$58,772
Per capita income
$37,989
Poverty rate
19.1%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Rent over 30% of income
51.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Housing

Rent
$1,326
Year built
1985
Households that rent
41.3%
Households that own
58.7%
Rooms per home (all homes)
5.8

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Race

White
37.4%
Black
49.6%
Asian
1.6%
Two or more races
8.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
7.9%
Not Hispanic or Latino
92.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Commute

Commute rate
16,007 (89.7%)
Commute time to work
22 mins
Work from home
1,830 (10.3%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Education

Less than high school
24.7%
High school graduate or GED
21.1%
Some college or associate degree
14%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
40.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

 

Comparison of ZIP Code 29209 with: Richland County, SC Columbia metro area, SC South Carolina United States

ZIP 29209

Total population38,041
Rent$1,326
Year built1985
Household income$58,772
Per capita income$37,989
Poverty rate19.1%
Unemployment rateN/A

Richland County, SC

Total population422,117
Rent$1,228
Year built1989
Household income$63,784
Per capita income$37,859
Poverty rate17.2%
Unemployment rate4.2%

Columbia Metro Area, SC

Total population849,181
Rent$1,193
Year built1991
Household income$68,359
Per capita income$37,960
Poverty rate14.5%
Unemployment rate4%

South Carolina State

Total population5,296,225
Rent$1,180
Year built1992
Household income$69,324
Per capita income$39,236
Poverty rate14.1%
Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499
Rent$1,413
Year built1980
Household income$80,734
Per capita income$44,673
Poverty rate12.5%
Unemployment rate4%
Metric ZIP29209 CountyRichland, SCMetro AreaColumbia metro area, SCStateSouth CarolinaCountryUnited States
Total population38,041422,117849,1815,296,225334,922,499
Rent$1,326$1,228$1,193$1,180$1,413
Year built19851989199119921980
Household income$58,772$63,784$68,359$69,324$80,734
Per capita income$37,989$37,859$37,960$39,236$44,673
Poverty rate19.1%17.2%14.5%14.1%12.5%
Unemployment rateN/A4.2%4%4.2%4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

 

Loading...

 

Summary for 29209

Rent & Income

In 29209, the typical monthly rent is $1,326 and the typical household income is $58,772. Rent here is higher than South Carolina, and household income is lower than South Carolina. The estimated poverty rate is 19.1%.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 41.3% of households. About 51.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 40.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

 

ZIP 29209 — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

ZIP 29209 — Poverty

 

 

How ZIP 29209 compares in South Carolina (58 ZIP Codes)

Metric This ZIP Rank Starts from State range
Rent $1,326 31 / 58 from lower rent $891 – $2,380
Household income $58,772 51 / 58 from higher income $46,054 – $133,357
Poverty rate 19.1% 52 / 58 from lower poverty 4.1% – 26.1%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in South Carolina with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

 

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 29209

Rent

For rent, this ZIP is positioned 31st out of 58 ZIP Codes in South Carolina. In South Carolina as a whole, the range goes from $891 in ZIP 29720 up to $2,380 in ZIP 29466.

Household income

For household income, ZIP Code 29209 ranks 51st out of 58 ZIP Codes. Statewide, values range from $46,054 in ZIP 29203 up to $133,357 in ZIP 29466.

Poverty rate

For poverty levels, this ZIP is positioned 52nd out of 58 ZIP Codes. Across South Carolina, figures vary from 4.1% in ZIP 29715 up to 26.1% in ZIP 29203.

 

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 29209 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,326 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 29209

Annual Household Income: $58,772

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 29209

Estimated Rate: 19.1%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 29209

In ZIP Code 29209, households that rent: 6,291 (41.3%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 6,291 41.3%
Owner-Occupied 8,938 58.7%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 29209

In ZIP Code 29209, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 3,233 (51.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 3,233 51.4%
Other renter households 3,058 48.6%
Total renter households 6,291 100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 29209

Less than High School: 6,106 people (24.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 5,205 people (21.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,455 people (14%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 9,944 people (40.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 24,710

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

 

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.